Chapter 9: First Fight
Theo couldn't help but furrow his eyebrows upon reading this comment. "Is that so? I can't see all the comments, so I'm not sure about it. However, creating multiple comments might increase your chances of being picked. But be aware that the author may also choose useless or troll comments to counter my advantage."
Theo smirked, realizing that the author was prepared to go all out to challenge him. "As expected of the author, he is ready to fight back."
"Father?" Mia tilted her head in confusion. They were already in front of the cave entrance, ready to enter. Theo paused for a moment to reply to the comment but took too long, causing Mia to return to him.
"Ah, sorry. I'm done." Theo patted her head with a smile. He waved his hand to Lancelot and said, "Lancelot, the school informed me about your talent, and your family seems to have asked for our help in overcoming your magic trauma."
Lancelot's heart skipped a beat. "Teacher, you..."
Lancelot couldn't continue, having witnessed the power of Theo's illusions. He knew that if Theo wanted to, he could use his illusions to remove Lancelot's trauma. Illusions were often used for therapeutic purposes.
However, Theo patted his shoulder and said, "But I don't have any intention of doing that."
"Eh?" Lancelot was surprised. He knew his family well. If he accomplished that task, his family and the school would gain numerous benefits. Yet Theo declared that he didn't plan to do it. This declaration was heard by his daughter, Serena, and Aurora. If Theo went against his words, he would lose their trust.
Theo looked ahead as if reminiscing about something. "I have seen a man who wields his sword to the ultimate peak. His sword is so strong that it can cut through anything, including space."
Lancelot gasped, having never heard of this person in his world.
Theo continued, "I have also seen someone whose ice is so powerful that it can freeze everything, including time."
"Freezing time with ice, not a time element?" Lancelot took a step back, horrified. If these beings were in this world, they would be god-like.
"Because I have seen beings like them, I can say that you can make your own decision. You can abandon magic entirely or embrace it once again. However, I want you to promise me something." Theo looked at Lancelot with a serious expression. "I will do my best to guide you, so don't make a half-baked decision."
Lancelot's body trembled. He knew that Theo possessed that ability, and this was a trust placed upon him. Theo wanted Lancelot to make a decision not based on his trauma or others' expectations but because he genuinely desired it. Once Lancelot made a decision, he had to reach a very high level for his family to accept that decision. That was what Theo wanted.
Lancelot took a deep breath and nodded. "I understand, sir. Thank you very much. Your words mean a lot to me."
Even Serena and Aurora couldn't help but smile, realizing that their teacher was sincere, not someone swayed by wealth or pressure.
"Then that's good. Let's enter the cave." Theo smiled.
The entire group immediately proceeded to enter the cave. Aurora raised her hands and began chanting, "O Spirit of the Light, please grant us your blessing so that we may see the darkness before us."
Warm energy flowed into their eyes, and the others seemed to like their enhanced vision in the dark cave. However, Theo furrowed his eyebrows as he could only see dimly, allowing them to see only a few meters ahead. If they were only dealing with spiders, it wouldn't be a problem. But if the enemies had long-range attacks, they could ambush them from a distance.
"Hmm..." Theo asked, "Is there anything more powerful than this?"
Aurora thought for a moment and nodded, "There are two more spells that could be useful. However, I'm not at that level yet. The strongest one can allow us to see up to fifty meters in complete darkness."
"I see." Theo nodded and noticed spider webs hanging around the cave. It seemed they had entered the spider's territory.
Lancelot stepped forward and said, "Be careful, we'll encounter the enemies soon."
"It seems we have gone far enough. It's time for me to shine." Mia smirked and raised both hands. Suddenly, a box appeared in her hands, wrapped with a purple ribbon like a present.
Something inside the box knocked on the lid before punching it away.
The others were curious about Mia's ability, considering she was Theo's daughter. Surprisingly, ten pink teddy bears emerged from the box and fell to the ground with heroic poses.
"Since I'm the scout, I'm not going to kill them, okay?" Mia pointed forward, ordering her teddy bears. "Go and find those monsters! Lead some of them back to us!"
Without hesitation, the teddy bears ran into the darkness. Aurora couldn't help but look away, finding the dolls cute.
Mia explained, "I don't see what the bears see. But once you think that your eyes are the only ones that can be used to see things, then you're completely wrong."
"Hmm?" Serena raised her eyebrows, but before she could ask, Mia added, "We've got incoming. Three spiders!"
As Mia warned them, Lancelot gripped his sword tightly, prepared to intercept the spiders.
The cave had a diameter of four meters, big enough for Lancelot to stop the spider. The spiders were as big as dogs, with a width of less than a meter but still large enough to cover an adult human's upper body.
The spiders screeched as they moved toward the group. They had twelve green eyes, and their legs were coated with a strange mucus. Their repulsive appearance made one's hair stand on end.
One spider hung from the ceiling, another walked on the wall, and the one on the ground rammed its body to stop Lancelot. Its green body soon turned into hard rock.
"Strength and Speed!" Serena shouted, taking out two glass bottles filled with red and green liquid. She removed the lids, and the aroma filled the cave.
Even Theo could feel a boost in his muscles, increasing his strength and speed.
"Thanks." Lancelot raised his sword and began circulating his Essence around it. He stepped forward and slashed at the spider in front of him.
Clang!
There was a clicking sound, indicating the spider's tough skin. However, Lancelot's blade managed to penetrate the spider's stony exterior, slicing a bit of its head.
"That's not enough?" Lancelot frowned.
The spider walking on the ceiling was about to pass him, ready to jump down and attack. However, it was met by a green arrow from behind, piercing through its head and causing it to fall on top of the spider Lancelot had struck.
Bam!
The weight of the falling spider caused them both to crash to the ground.
"Hoho! It's time for me to shine!" Mia smirked and jumped over Lancelot, wielding a hammer larger than her body. The hammer had the words "1,000 Ton" written on it.
But when the hammer struck the spiders, it was sliced, revealing its true form—a sword. The sword cut through the hammer's body, which was actually made of balloons, and continued through spider bodies, slicing them in half.
"Hehe, you got pranked. That wasn't a hammer." Mia grinned playfully.
Lancelot was utterly shocked by Mia's ability, but he was interrupted by screeching sounds coming from the side. There was one more spider walking on the wall. He immediately jumped to the side, impaling the spider's body.
Cling!
Although there was initial resistance, Lancelot roared and pushed his sword with all his strength. The Essence covering his sword flared up, allowing it to penetrate the tough rock skin.
Scree!
The spider wailed in pain as Lancelot shouted to the others, "Kill it!"
"Here I go!" Serena threw a tube toward the spider. Once it shattered, the liquid combined with the air and suddenly combusted. Flames engulfed the spider immediately.
Lancelot gritted his teeth as he saw the fire, recalling his trauma. But in front of his classmates, he had to endure it. He took a step back as soon as the spider stopped making noise. He knew he had to change his weapon.
As a knight, he could wield both a sword and a spear. In an enclosed space like the cave, a short-range weapon would be more suitable. But to remain calm, he needed to maintain distance from the flame. So, he sheathed his sword and pulled out the spear from his back.
Theo observed their movements closely, waiting for something.
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone